Other universities, institutes of higher learning not planning to follow NUS move to test students regularly

• NUS said that its students and staff members must be regularly tested for Covid-19 before going to campus from Aug 10
• MOE said that for other institutes of higher learning, staff members working in higher-risk mask-off settings are required to regularly test themselves
• TODAY understands that there are no plans to mandate testing on students for the time being

SINGAPORE — While the National University of Singapore (NUS) plans to roll out swab-testing for its students from next week when the new semester begins, other universities will not be doing the same. 

In a response on behalf of the other universities, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Wednesday (Aug 5) that institutes of higher learning, including universities, will require staff members working in higher-risk mask-off settings to be regularly tested for Covid-19.

TODAY understands that these universities have no plans to roll out testing for students and there are no plans by the authorities to have such a measure for students.

The MOE requirement is in line with the nationwide measure on the Fast and Easy Tests (FET) regime for such workers introduced by the Government in June.

The statement from MOE was sent in response to TODAY’s queries to Nanyang Technological University, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore Management University, Singapore University of Social Sciences,  and the Singapore University of Technology and Design.

NUS TESTING PILOT

On Wednesday, NUS said that as part of a new pilot, all of its students and staff members will be required to undergo regular self-administered testing from Aug 10 onwards.

In a circular seen by TODAY, the university said that the regular FET will be conducted using antigen rapid test kits.

Dr Peck Thian Guan, senior director of NUS’ office of safety, health and environment, said in the circular: “The implementation of this pilot is an added precaution to safeguard the health of our students and staff members. It will enable quick detection and better containment of community spread of the virus, in the event of any confirmed Covid-19 cases.” 

The frequency of testing will depend on an individual’s vaccination status and whether he or she stays on campus.

Fully vaccinated campus residents will have to do a monthly swab test, while those who are not will have to do so weekly.

To be considered fully vaccinated, two weeks should pass after an individual has received his or her second dose of an approved Covid-19 vaccine, which is either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine.

Fully vaccinated staff members and students who do not stay on campus must undergo a self-swab test before their first visit to the campus from Aug 10 onwards. After that, they must go through a self-swab test every 20th visit to the campus.

For those who have yet to be fully vaccinated, they must do a self-swab test before their first visit to the campus from Aug 10 onwards, and go through a self-swab test every fifth visit to the campus.

WHAT OTHER INSTITUTES ARE DOING

At all schools and institutes of higher learning, staff members who work in settings with unmasked individuals are required to undergo the FET every two weeks, MOE said. 

It added that schools, polytechnics and the Institutes of Technical Education have implemented FET for their staff members since mid-July, while autonomous universities will do so when term resumes over the next two months.

This will apply to teachers teaching physical education, coaches teaching sports-related activities in unmasked settings and teachers teaching examinable music and drama subjects who may encounter students in unmasked settings regularly.

It will also apply to instructors of physical sports and performing arts co-curricular activities that are conducted in unmasked settings.

Cleaners operating in areas such as canteens and sports facilities where unmasked activities take place and staff members working in food-and-beverage establishments such as canteens must also undergo the FET.